Oyigbo-Umusia Cluster: 35 Get Starter Skills Training Packs

Not fewer than 35 persons who underwent a six-month skills acquisition programme, courtesy of Oyibo-Umusia Cluster Development Board, have received their starter packs.
Chairman of the Oyibo-Umusia Cluster Board, Ojijiagwo Gordon said the project which was started in 2017 by Shell Petroleum Development Company was stalled due to Covid- 19 and subsequent divestiture of the oil field to Heirs Oil and Gas (HOG)in 2012.
He explained that training was a joint effort covering over five areas of empowerment for the indigenes of Umusia as a host community of oil facility for OML 17.
The programme he stated was revived last year after the Covid – 19 pandemic when Heirs Oil and Gas acquired the oil field and added two new skills that include fish farming and Safety Health and Environment to arm indigenes with skills for self reliance.
He praised the indigenous oil firm, as he assured of more training and empowerment in the future.
On his part, Mr. Levi Nwachuku of Umusia Community Trust said the aim of the skills training was to reduce poverty in line with the Millennium Development Goals and to reduce youth restiveness.
“ We want beneficiaries to build on what they have been taught, to serve as mentors for upcoming younger ones and to train other people,” Nwachuku said.
Community Development Committee Chairman of Umusia in Oyibo, Chief David Nwakanma who also underwent training on fishery said the programme had been the yearning of the people over the years.
“I’m proud that during my tenure as CDC Chairman, the lives of my people improved, but we need scholarships for students to attend university,” Chief Nwaknma stressed.
Coordinator of Ampex Centre for Environment Development, James Tycho-a non-governmental organisation that supervised the project said he was gladdened with the gesture which Shell and Heirs Oil and Gas have displayed to make it a success.
In the coming years, Mr. Tycho said the new Petroleum Act will govern activities of oil firms in their host communities as Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMOU) is fast fading away.

By: kevin Nengia